Our father's life began in the Sandhills of North Carolina, where he was born Aug. 12, 1925. He was the sixth child of Frank and Loula Richardson Alexander. Frank was a merchant in the town of Vass until the Great Depression of 1929 sent the family back to the farm to survive tough economic times. Frank broke land and planted crops, while Loula began a thriving business raising chickens and selling meat, eggs and produce at the Southern Pines farmer's market.

Their nine children grew up learning to be self-sufficient, resilient and innovative. The boys were skilled hunters and Lewey — whom they nicknamed Tuppin — shot his first deer at age 14. The family were members of Vass Presbyterian Church, where Frank led the singing in the Sunday School. It was his wish that his children learn to play musical instruments and his older sons became expert guitarists who taught their younger brothers, including Tuppin, to play.

"Tuppin" Alexander attended school in Vass and played baseball and basketball at Vass High School, where he graduated in 1942. He attended Lees-McRae Junior College on a scholarship for a year. By that time, the country was deep into World War II. On his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and was trained as a radio operator. He was sent to the Pacific region, where he served in the Searchlight Battery of the 17th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion, on the island of Guam. When the war ended, he served in Formosa, now known as Taiwan, until his discharge in 1946. Sadly, during his military service, both of his parents passed away and his brothers and sisters moved away to take jobs, marry and attend school.

He returned to Lees-McRae for another year, and then went on to N.C. State to fulfill his mother's wish that he become an architect. After a year, he decided that architecture was not his field, and he left to work for a while in the A&P grocery store in Lumberton. During that time, he met Hazel Oakley Briggs, a young war widow, and fell in love. They married in April of 1949 and Tuppin decided to return to his studies, this time at Appalachian State Teachers' College. While in Boone, the couple had their first child, Glenda, and designed and built a small home.

In 1951, Tuppin finished his teaching certificate and started a master's degree in education. For four years, the family spent winters in Carthage, where he taught and coached at the high school, and summers in Boone, while he finished his degree. In 1951, their second child, Lewey Jr., was born, and in 1952, their third, Charles.

In 1955, Tuppin, or Lewey, took a teaching and coaching position at a new consolidated school in Beaver Creek, where he stayed for two years and then moved on to North Davidson High School in Davidson County, where he was instrumental in establishing the football program. His children remember his seeding grass on the field, mowing and marking the lines, and buying equipment. The family lived in the Midway community. While living there in 1960, the fourth child, Billy, was born, and later the same year they celebrated Christmas in Welcome, where they lived for the next 20 years.

In 1961 he exchanged his coaching career for full-time math teaching and part-time driver education instructor. In 1965, Dawn, the fifth child was born. Also in 1965, Lewey was among a group that established and constructed the Welcome Swimming Club. The pool opened the following year and Lewey served as manager of the pool until 1973. In addition, the family became members of the newly organized Our Savior's Lutheran Church in 1965.

Lewey studied for a degree in advanced mathematics from Wake Forest University in the early '70s. He also earned a teaching certificate in driver education from N.C. A.&T.

In 1978, Hazel (Mama) passed away. In 1980, Lewey became a full-time driver's education instructor at Central Davidson High School, until his retirement in 1983. He earned a pilot's license in 1980 and owned and flew a small Cessna until 2003. He and his brother, Bob, planted a Christmas tree farm in Caldwell County, where they built a hunting cabin.

In 1989, Lewey met Anna Crowell and they married in 1990 and took up residence in Greensboro. They attended Guilford College United Methodist Church, where Anna was a member, but retained ties with Our Savior's in Welcome.

In 2010, Lewey was thrilled to participate in the Flight of Honor, which took World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the monuments built there in their honor.

Our Daddy, Lewey Alexander, was a skilled carpenter and handy man, guitarist and outdoorsman. He was a faithful husband and father, a fine example of honesty, integrity and good sportsmanship. We will miss him forever.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and by his brothers, Bob and Max and sister Pat.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Welcome Civitan Club, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, or Guilford College United Methodist Church.

<p>Lewey Glenn Alexander Sr., 88, died Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, at Wesley Long Community Hospital. </p><p>A funeral will be held 4 p.m. Tuesday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church by the Rev. John Beeg and the Rev. Dr. Tom Gibson. Burial will follow in the Forest Hill Memorial Park with military honors.</p><p>The family will receive friends 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Davidson Funeral Home, Hickory Tree Chapel.</p><p>Our father's life began in the Sandhills of North Carolina, where he was born Aug. 12, 1925. He was the sixth child of Frank and Loula Richardson Alexander. Frank was a merchant in the town of Vass until the Great Depression of 1929 sent the family back to the farm to survive tough economic times. Frank broke land and planted crops, while Loula began a thriving business raising chickens and selling meat, eggs and produce at the Southern Pines farmer's market.</p><p>Their nine children grew up learning to be self-sufficient, resilient and innovative. The boys were skilled hunters and Lewey — whom they nicknamed Tuppin — shot his first deer at age 14. The family were members of Vass Presbyterian Church, where Frank led the singing in the Sunday School. It was his wish that his children learn to play musical instruments and his older sons became expert guitarists who taught their younger brothers, including Tuppin, to play.</p><p>"Tuppin" Alexander attended school in Vass and played baseball and basketball at Vass High School, where he graduated in 1942. He attended Lees-McRae Junior College on a scholarship for a year. By that time, the country was deep into World War II. On his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and was trained as a radio operator. He was sent to the Pacific region, where he served in the Searchlight Battery of the 17th Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion, on the island of Guam. When the war ended, he served in Formosa, now known as Taiwan, until his discharge in 1946. Sadly, during his military service, both of his parents passed away and his brothers and sisters moved away to take jobs, marry and attend school.</p><p>He returned to Lees-McRae for another year, and then went on to N.C. State to fulfill his mother's wish that he become an architect. After a year, he decided that architecture was not his field, and he left to work for a while in the A&P grocery store in Lumberton. During that time, he met Hazel Oakley Briggs, a young war widow, and fell in love. They married in April of 1949 and Tuppin decided to return to his studies, this time at Appalachian State Teachers' College. While in Boone, the couple had their first child, Glenda, and designed and built a small home.</p><p>In 1951, Tuppin finished his teaching certificate and started a master's degree in education. For four years, the family spent winters in Carthage, where he taught and coached at the high school, and summers in Boone, while he finished his degree. In 1951, their second child, Lewey Jr., was born, and in 1952, their third, Charles.</p><p>In 1955, Tuppin, or Lewey, took a teaching and coaching position at a new consolidated school in Beaver Creek, where he stayed for two years and then moved on to North Davidson High School in Davidson County, where he was instrumental in establishing the football program. His children remember his seeding grass on the field, mowing and marking the lines, and buying equipment. The family lived in the Midway community. While living there in 1960, the fourth child, Billy, was born, and later the same year they celebrated Christmas in Welcome, where they lived for the next 20 years.</p><p>In 1961 he exchanged his coaching career for full-time math teaching and part-time driver education instructor. In 1965, Dawn, the fifth child was born. Also in 1965, Lewey was among a group that established and constructed the Welcome Swimming Club. The pool opened the following year and Lewey served as manager of the pool until 1973. In addition, the family became members of the newly organized Our Savior's Lutheran Church in 1965.</p><p>Lewey studied for a degree in advanced mathematics from Wake Forest University in the early '70s. He also earned a teaching certificate in driver education from N.C. A.&T.</p><p>In 1978, Hazel (Mama) passed away. In 1980, Lewey became a full-time driver's education instructor at Central Davidson High School, until his retirement in 1983. He earned a pilot's license in 1980 and owned and flew a small Cessna until 2003. He and his brother, Bob, planted a Christmas tree farm in Caldwell County, where they built a hunting cabin.</p><p>In 1989, Lewey met Anna Crowell and they married in 1990 and took up residence in Greensboro. They attended Guilford College United Methodist Church, where Anna was a member, but retained ties with Our Savior's in Welcome.</p><p>In 2010, Lewey was thrilled to participate in the Flight of Honor, which took World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the monuments built there in their honor.</p><p>Our Daddy, Lewey Alexander, was a skilled carpenter and handy man, guitarist and outdoorsman. He was a faithful husband and father, a fine example of honesty, integrity and good sportsmanship. We will miss him forever. </p><p>He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and by his brothers, Bob and Max and sister Pat.</p><p>In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Welcome Civitan Club, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, or Guilford College United Methodist Church.</p>